Indians are being attacked and their businesses looted in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after a man from the African nation died in the Indian city of Bengaluru on 2 August.
Joel Shindani Malu, a 27-year-old African student, had been in police custody since earlier this month for allegedly carrying drugs.
After a retaliatory mob attack on Indian businesses in 9th Street, Kinshasa, during which Indians were pelted with stones and 40 bales of clothes stolen from Indian stores, three people so far have been taken into custody. The bales of clothes have also been returned to their owners, the India Times reported on Friday.
"Uncivilised people, mainly young people, have been looting stores and warehouses held by Indian nationals," the report quoted Kinshasa Police Commissioner Sylvano Kasongo as saying.
Images emerging from Kinshasa show the continuing riots against Indians.
Chain of Events
Malu was arrested by officials of the JC Nagar police station in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka state, on 1 August.
According to the Bengaluru police, the African student complained of pains in his chest after which he was admitted to a hospital where he died on 3 August.
The fact that Malu died while in police custody sparked protests against the Bengaluru police - during which African nationals living in the Karnataka capital, chanted slogans and fought with security personnel.
#RDC: Imyigaragambyo imbere y’amaduka y’abahinde I Kinshasa muri irakomeje kuva umunyeshuri w’umunyekongo Joël Malu Shindani yagwa mu bitaro nyuma yo kumara igihe muri gereza, byatumye Kinshasa inahamagaza ambasaderi w’u Buhinde i #Kinshasa. pic.twitter.com/wXVFnKRxu3
Meanwhile, protests erupted against Indian nationals in DRC. Rumors surrounding the case suggest that the student died because of injuries inflicted by police officials while in custody.
Sputnik attempted several times to contact the JC Nagar police station in Bengaluru for a comment but was unable to reach anyone.